6 Young People Share What Being a Queer Muslim Means to Them

Believers is a series running throughout April, examining different facets of faith and religion among young people.

Tina Tona

To be queer and to be Muslim is, for Sophia Uppal, “something that…from the outside, you wouldn't think would make sense." In some Muslim countries, gay people are persecuted or marginalized, and in some Muslim communities, LGBTQ people may not be accepted. But, being queer and being Muslim are not mutually exclusive, and for Uppal, their identity fits with their faith like a puzzle piece. “When you're on the inside of it,” they say, "it makes complete sense."

Uppal is one of many queer Muslims who find that their identity isn't at odds with their faith, but rather deepens their understanding of it. On Eid al-Fitr, six Muslims spoke about identifying as queer, and how they connect with both their faith and their sexuality.

Dena Igusti said being a queer Muslim is about “friendships and family and love.” For Ramie Ahmed, it's about autonomy, and being empowered to be yourself. Armana Kahn said being a queer Muslim is all about looking beneath the surface. “[It's] about digging for a deeper answer than just what's presented to you," she said. "Not really believing everything that's said in black and white, but really doing a lot of introspective research.”

A 2017 Pew survey found that younger American Muslims are more accepting of LGBTQ identities than older Muslims are, indicating that attitudes may be shifting generationally. And, a survey published in 2020 from the Williams Institute found that 47% of LGBT adults identify as religious, 106,000 of whom are Muslim. Still, some LGBTQ Muslims face prejudice, which might prevent them from coming out publicly as queer. CNN reported in 2019 that a recent survey of more than 800 American Muslims had no respondents self-identify as lesbian or gay.

Still, queer Muslims have built community in the U.S. Affirming spaces like Masjid Al-Rabia, where marginalized Muslims are centered, offer a space to worship and to find like-minded people. It's this kind of community that Uppal rejoices in.

“Being a queer Muslim is life-giving, it's community building,” they said. “It's just love. It makes me love myself more and my religion more.”